Failing hospital boss quits with big golden handshake

The head of a Rotterdam hospital which has been hit by an outbreak of a multiresistant bacteria has resigned with a golden handshake of €236,000.

In total, 28 patients have died and 88 been infected by the super bug Klebsiella at the Maasstad hospital.
Hospital director Paul Smits, who came under fire for failing to tackle the outbreak early enough, has now resigned, but MPs from all parties are furious at the amount of money he has been given in compensation.
‘He resigns three weeks too late and walks off with over €200,000. This is being rewarded for mismanagement,’ said PVV MP Karen Gerbrands. ‘This man has played with peoples’ lives.’
Labour, Socialist and PVV MPs have called on Smits to hand back the money. A spokesman for the ruling Liberal party called on Smits and the hospital’s supervisory board to look in the mirror and question the morality of what they had done.